Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt
There are words that describe someone unwilling to move away from what he or she believes such as stubborn, bull-headed, pig-headed, and pertinacious. When we think of this we think of a person that won’t listen to anyone—even when everyone believes they are wrong.
This wouldn’t typically be viewed as a godly quality. Not listening to others is generally viewed as a very negative quality. Getting advice and counsel is viewed as a good thing. Proverbs 19:20 (NIV) says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.” And Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Getting counsel and listening to the opinions and advice of others is deemed as a wise thing to do. The real key in getting wisdom is getting it from those that have been where you are going and have done what you are getting ready to do. And especially from those that have succeeded at what you want to do. That’s when getting counsel and wisdom helps produce the greatest results.
As a Christian, one other thing key to good counsel and wisdom is getting it from someone who has a moral compass established firmly upon God’s word. God is wisdom. Those who are wise are, because they have walked according to the counsel of God’s word, and are your greatest source for advise and counsel except for the Word of God itself!
So is there ever a time when being stubborn, bull-headed, pertinacious, or pig-headed could be a good thing? Yes! But not in dealing with people, but in dealing with the enemy of your soul, the devil.
In hard times and actually, at all times, the devil tries to discourage you with accusations and condemnation over every mistake and wrong choice you’ve made. Everyone makes mistakes and some bad choices. We all need to mature and improve by learning from God’s word and making better decisions and right choices. Sometimes there will be painful consequences you don’t like from bad decisions. But, regardless, don’t fall to the devil’s accusations. Don’t give him victory by beating yourself up, or by quitting and giving up. Do that and you let him win. If you blow it, take it to God! Immediately! Acknowledge your mistakes and repent knowing He’ll forgive a sincere heart and help you navigate through the mistakes and possible pain that has come. He will help you! His grace will be there to help you!
As far as the enemy of your soul, be stubborn, bull-headed, pertinacious, and pig-headed. Get in his face and declare that you stand solely by God’s mercy and grace AND THAT YOU WILL STAND IN IT! You tell him you are forgiven, that God loves you, that Jesus died for your sins, and don’t budge! He’ll try to give you one-hundred reasons why that isn’t true for you. He’ll tell you that you’ve crossed the line too many times. He’ll tell you that God is tired of you and has abandoned you! When that happens, be stubborn and don’t budge! Psalms 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so…” You say so! You say out loud, God loves me! God forgives me. God will never leave me. And then do your best to follow the counsel of His Word!
If sickness and disease comes against you and tries to take your health or life, fight the battle! Get in the enemies face and despite any circumstances confronting you, say what David said in, Psalm 103:1-5. “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits– who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
There is a godly stubbornness. It’s called being tenacious. It’s called “fighting the good fight of faith.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (NLT) says, “Fight the good fight for what we believe…” And then it says to be even more tenacious. Ephesians 6:13 (NLT) says, “Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.”
When I was a young Christian, my Pastor gave me one of the best pieces of godly counsel I ever received. He said, Don’t ever yield anything good that God has given you back to the devil. He may try to steal it, but in your heart and in the spirit, don’t let him have it. No matter what happens, fight for it. Take authority over him and declare Him caught. Pray that the angels of God help you get it back. NEVER yield your blessings to the devil. NEVER! The devil has no right to what God has redeemed you from and blessed you with! That was life-changing counsel and has helped me so much. I made it a core value in my life and lived that counsel out over the next 38 years. It has made me strong in the Lord and the power of His might. It has made me tenacious against the devil.
Be considerate and open and yielding to people where possible. Appreciate good counsel. But when it comes to the devil, never be a doormat for him to abuse you. Be unmovable and stand on God’s word for His love, forgiveness, His promised help, deliverance, and blessing. Declare what God has declared over you to his face! And continue to stand in faith until you have His blessing in your hand. Blessing belongs to you! Jesus died for it. Honor Jesus by standing strong as He did for you and I!
1 Thessalonians 5:17-21 (NLT) “Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the
Holy Spirit…. but test everything that is said. HOLD ON TO WHAT IS GOOD!”
In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
what a blessing and encouragement these words are to me! Thanks and God bless you
So happy they it was a blessing to you Mark! Thanks for reading! God bless you!